Lady Saw and Two Culture Clash

Lady Saw
Strip Tease (VP)
When Marion "Lady Saw" Hall spits out "I just wan' be free to express my sexuality" on "Just Being Me," she's pretty much describing the raison d'être for her entire career. For the past decade, Ms. Saw's been the only chick to consistently challenge the dancehall old boys' club on their terms. Chock full of hot tunes ("Man Is the Least" and "Good Love" featuring Sizzla are standouts), Strip Tease is the kind of smart sass that makes Lil' Kim look all the more pathetic. I've never been one for female empowerment through sexuality, but "Pretty Pussy" and "Best Pum Pum" might make a believer of me yet. 8.5/10

Various
Two Culture Clash (V2)
Kid 606 with Ward 21? Roni Size with Spragga Benz? Who thought this was a brilliant idea? 6/10

Ms. Thing

Ms. Thing
Miss Jamaica (Sequence)
Ms. Thing sounds like a bratty 17-year-old who runs to the studio after school, untucks her uniform and records nasty ditties that appall her mother but impress the boys. The recent high school grad found fame looking for Beenie Man to do her in a van in the smash "Dude." Great production, interesting riddims, but Ms. Thing seems out of her league here. And auto-tuning can't take away the fact that she's awkward and pitchy as hell. Dirty words have been edited, but given the prevalence of raunch ("Muscle Tight" for one), that'll do little to ease Ma's mind. 6.5/10